Caster



Aug. .2, 1932.

R. E. MILLER CASTER Filed April 15, 1930 Patented Aug. 2, 1932 PATENT OFFICE ROBERT E. MILLER, OF BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK (EASTER Application filed April 15,

My present invention relates generally to casters for furniture, and has particular reference to that type of caster which is known as a sliding caster.

It is one of the objects of my invention to provide a sliding caster made up generally of two parts having a rocking association,

oneof the parts being adapted for attachment to a furniture leg and the other for a sliding contact with the floor.

A general object of my invention is to provide an improved and simplified construction which is inexpensive to manufacture,

simple for the ordinary person to install, and highly efiicient and durable in operation.

Other features of my invention reside in the peculiar manner of construction whereby the application of the caster is rendered extremely simple without any likelihood of damaging portions of the caster during the process.

For the attainment of the foregoing objects and such other objects as may hereinafter appear or be pointed out I have illustrated embodiments of my invention in the accompanying drawing wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of my present invention;

Figure 2 is an elevatlonal cross-sectional view of the same shown in association with the lower end of a furniture leg;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1, of a modification Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1, illustrating a further embodiment; Figure 5 is an elevational cross-sectional view of the modification of Figure 4; and

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 of a modification thereof.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, I will point out that the caster herein illustrated is of the type which is provided with a sliding floor engaging foot member a and a member I) which serves for securing the sl1d1ng foot to a furniture leg, as shown in Figure 2 1n the em- 7} bodiment of Figures 1 and 2. The sliding 1930. Serial No. 444,365.

14 which interlocks beneath the flange 12 of the body member 10. The two members 10 and 13 are generally contoured so as to provide a space therebetween, and thus form a hollow foot. The cover member 13 is generally upwardly convexed and is provided with a central bulbous portion 1 1 whose radius of curvature is smaller than that of the marginal portion of the cover member. The central bulbous portion 14 is provided at its apex or its highest point with a marginal'or central aperture 15 which may be circular in shape.

Associated with the foot for rocking movement relatively thereto is an attaching member which in the embodiment of Fig. 2 may take the form of a large sized cotter pin. Its mid-portion or head is formed into a gently curved loop 20 of a width greater than that of the aperture 15 in the cover member 13.

The legs 21 of the attaching member extend upwardly into substantially parallel relationship except that they are outwardly bulged to form adjacent the loop 20, enlarge-- ments 22 also gently curved, the legs 21 also have their free ends bent outwardly and spread apart as shown at 23 for providing a frictional engagement with the bore 24: in the furniture leg 25.

As is customary in cotter pins, the legs 21 are springy and are normally divergent as shown in Fig. 1. When forced upwardly into the opening 24- provided in the bottom of the furniture leg, the legs 21 tend to spread and thereby grip the walls ofthe opening 24: and hold the caster in place.

It is to be noted that the cross-sectional area of the two adjacent legs or arms 21 is substantially smaller than that of the loop 20 and also slightly smaller than the enlargements 22 and 23. It is further to be noted that between the loop 20 and the enlargements 22, there is formed what is in effect a constriction. or neck portion 26, which is received in the opening 15 and that this neck portion 26, due to the spreading action of the cotter pin, will normally tend to support the cotter pin as shown in Fig. 2, with the loop 20 spaced from and out of contact with the bottom 10 of the foot member. Due to the character of the enlarged bulbous portion 14 and the gentle curvature of those portions of the loop 20 and enlargements 22 adjacent the neck 26, a rocking relationship is established. As a result of this, the foot will remain perfectly fiat and horizontal even though the furniture leg tilts.

In the embodiment of Fig. 2, itis to be noted that while the end of the loop 15 is out of contact with the bottom 10, the provision, in the attaching member, of the enlargements 20 and 22 and the neck portion 26 therebctween and the manner in which these parts are associated. with the opening 14 in the cover member of the foot gives the attaching member such an association with the cover member 13 that when a driving force is appliedto thebottom member 10, it will be transmitted through the cover member 13 to the enlargements 22 and thus to the attaching member. I

In Figure 3, I have illustrated a modification in which the bottom member 10 may be in the form of'a solid casting 20, for example of bakelite. In this modification, however, a depression 28 is formed in this bottom member so as to provide clearance for the loop member 20 of the attaching member or cotter pin.

In the embodiment of Figs. 4 and '5, I show a modified attaching member. The. foot mem ber is constructed substantially as described inconnection with the embodimentof Figs. 1 and 2, and the description of the foot member of the embodiment already above described will'apply equally well'as with the embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5.

The attaching member. or stud is in the form of a curved disk 40, substantially of the same radius of curvature of that of the bulbous portion 14 of the cover member 13. The convex face of the disk 40 is held in contact with a convex face of the bulbous portion 14, as for example, by means ofa rivethaving the enlarged head portions 41 and 4. and the connecting neck portion 48. The parts are so contoured and dimensioned as to permit the disk40 to rock with reference to the cover member 18. This, I accomplish by allowing from that of Fig. 1, namely in that the bottom member of the foot instead of being of sheet material is made solid of a material such as bakelite.

One of the important features of my invention resides in the bulbous portion 14 and in the manner of which the attaching member co-operates therewith for a universal rolling association- This is particularly applicable to the embodiments of Figures 4 and 5 in which it will be observed that the radius of curvature of the contacting surfaces of both the bulbous portion 14 and the curved member 40 is relatively small. In fact I have shown the radius of curvature of the convex surface ofl thebulbous portion such that if it were continued, it would fall well within the perimeter of the foot.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a sliding caster, in combination, a hollow foot having a floor engaging bottom wall and a generally upwardly convex top wall and an attaching member associated with said foot comprising a convexed portion having a rolling contact with said top wall.

2. In a sliding caster, in combination, a hollow foot having a floor engaging bottom wall and a top wall which isgenerally upwardly convex, an opening centrally of'said top wall and an attaching member associated with said foot comprising a convexed portion having a rolling contact with said top wall, and a portion passing through said opening.

3. In a sliding caster, in combinatioma hollow foot whose top wall is generally *upwardly convex and is provided centrally thereof with a bulbous portion havinga' radius of curvature smaller than that of the remaining portion of the cover and a central aperture in said bulbous portion and an attaching member associated with said. foot comprising a convexed portion having a rolling contact with said bulbous portion and substantially of the same radius of curvature as said bulbous portion, and a portion passing through said opening.

4. In a sliding caster, in combination, a hollow foot whose top wall is generally upwardly convex, a central aperture in said top wall and an attaching member associated withsaid foot comprising a portion presenting a convexed surface in rolling contact with said top wall and a portion at one end passing through, said opening for securing the two in rolling association and means at the other end for securing said attaching member to a furniture leg.

5. In a sliding-caster, in combination, a hollow foot Whose top wall is generally upwardly convex and is provided centrally thereof with a bulbous portion having a radius of curvature smaller than thatof the remaining portion of'the cover, ancentral aperture in said bulbous portion and an attaching member associated with said foot comprising a portion presenting a convexed surface in rolling contact with said bulbous portion and substantially of the same radius of curvature as said bulbous portion and a portion at one end passing through said opening for securing the two in rolling association and means at the other end for securin said attaching member to a furniture leg. in Witness whereof I have signed this specification this 10th day of April, 1930.

ROBERT E. MILLER. 

